Security sentinel robot

Abstract

A building monitoring system includes a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space, a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space, and a robotic sentinel. The robotic sentinel includes a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify an alert condition for the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space, a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensors, the memory, and the communications module. The controller is configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify one or more alert conditions and determine what action is required by the robotic sentinel, and if action is required, command the robotic sentinel to travel to a location of the alert condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for monitoring a condition in or near a building, the method comprising:
 storing two or more rules that define a plurality of role defined events and a plurality of recommended actions, each rule defining:
 a rule defined event that is detectable via one or more of a plurality of sensed conditions sensed by one or more the sensors of the building; and 
 a recommended action to take in response to the corresponding rule defined event; 
 
 monitoring the plurality of sensed conditions of the one or more sensors over time; 
 repeatedly applying the two or more rules to the plurality of sensed conditions to identify a sensed condition that matches a particular rule defined event of the plurality of rule defined events defined by the two or more rules; 
 in response to identifying that the sensed condition sensed by a sensor of the one or more sensors matches the particular rule defined event, dispatching a robotic sentinel to a location in the building associated with the sensor to communicate with the sensor and to poll, using direct communication, the sensor for an updated one or more sensed conditions; and 
 in response to determining that the updated one or more sensed conditions matches the particular rule defined event, outputting a notification indicative of the particular rule defined event. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises a temperature outside of a predetermined range. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises an activated motion detector during a predefined time period. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises a humidity outside of a predetermined range. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises an activated fire alarm. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises an activated gas detector. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defined event for at least one rule comprises an activated leak detector. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to identifying that the sensed condition matches the particular rule defined event and that the robotic sentinel has reached the location associated with the sensor, activating a camera on the robotic sentinel. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting a video feed from the robotic sentinel to a remote device over a network. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising saving the video feed as a data file. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recommended action for at least one rule further comprises delivering an alert to a remote device over a network. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic sentinel is a robotic vacuum. 
     
     
       13. A building monitoring system configured to be used in a space within a building, the monitoring system comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of conditions in the space; and 
 a robotic sentinel, comprising:
 a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify an alert condition for the space based on one or more of the plurality of conditions in the space; 
 a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network and with each of the plurality of sensors using direct communication; and 
 a controller operatively coupled to the memory and the communications module, the controller configured to:
 apply the one or more rules to the plurality of conditions in the space to identify a particular alert condition associated with one or more conditions detected by a sensor of the plurality of sensors in response to identifying the particular alert conditions associated with the one or more conditions detected by the sensor, command the robotic sentinel to travel to a location in the space associated with the sensor to communicate with the sensor and to poll, using direct communication, the sensor for an updated one or more sensed conditions; and 
 in response to determining that the updated one or more sensed conditions of the sensor matches the particular alert condition, outputting a notification indicative of the particular alert condition. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide an alert to the remote device via the communications module. 
     
     
       15. The monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to activate a camera mounted on the robotic sentinel when the robotic sentinel is at the location associated with the sensor. 
     
     
       16. The monitoring system of  claim 15 , wherein a video feed acquired from the camera is transmitted to the remote device. 
     
     
       17. The monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the robotic sentinel is a robotic vacuum. 
     
     
       18. A server for monitoring a space of a building, the server comprising:
 a memory for storing two or more rules, each rule defining:
 a rule defined event that is detectable via one or more of a plurality of sensed conditions in the space; and 
 a recommended action to take in response to the corresponding rule defined event; 
 
 an input/output port for receiving the plurality of sensed conditions from the space; 
 a controller operatively coupled memory and the input/output port, the controller configured to: 
 monitor the plurality of sensed conditions over time; 
 repeatedly applying the two or more rules to the plurality of monitored sensed conditions to identify when a particular rule defined event of the two or more rules occurs; 
 in response to identifying the occurrence of the particular rule defined event, dispatching a robotic sentinel to a location in the space associated with a sensor that senses a sensed condition that matches the particular rule defined event to communicate with the sensor and to poll, using direct communication, the sensor for an updated one or more sensed conditions; and 
 in response to determining that the updated one or more sensed conditions of the sensor matches the particular rule defined event, outputting a notification indicative of the particular rule defined event. 
 
     
     
       19. The server of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sensed conditions comprises uncomfortable or unsafe conditions, and wherein the rule defined event for a first rule of the two or more rules comprises a temperature outside of a predetermined range and a second rule of the two or more rules comprises an activated motion detector.